industry.
Brandice.
>> A growing number of private
healthcare and nursing care
providers mandate for staff and
residents.
Laggingvaccination rates to
require that all employees at
state operated nursing homes
have the vaccine by early
October and in Illinois, 84% of
nursing home residents have been
fully vaccinated compared to
just 62% of workers according to
the CDC.
Joining us now to share her
thoughts is the executive
director of mercy circle and
this is part of the trinity
health group.
We should say that we did invite
several different unions that
represent the healthcare workers
to join this discussion, but
they all declined.
Last week, they put out a
statement saying rigid mandates
and the employees and these
congregate facilities have been
on the job everyday since the
onset of this pandemic and we
oppose any effort to define them
as a part of the problem rather
than recognize stheir dedicatior
dedication and protecting health
and saving lives.
Francis, thank you for joining
us and we should be clear that
your staff at mercy circle, just
so that we're certain that
there's no confusion there and,
first, tell us about mercy
circle and the community and how
many residents and staff?
>> Mercy circle has 110 units
and we're pretty small in the
Chicago south side.
>> OK.
And how without you say the tole
the toll on your residents and
staff and resident families?
>> It's been a tremendous toll.
The separation from family
families for our residents
during the beginning of the
pandemic and the peak created
some very dark times for us in
our industry and the impact of
the unknown and the uncertainty
of the virus and its impact or
spread throughout, if you
remember, the ederly initially
was scarry.
>> What were the mitigation
measures that meant going into a
lockdown?
Where family and friends
couldn't visit and the impact it
has on residents.
>> Exactly.
So we were all -- all long-term
facilities were shut down in
which no visitors can come.
It caused us to be creative to
find ways to keep family members
and residents connected.
Things like zoom calls and
face-time and window visits and
drive-by parades were done by
family members.
>> So I understand that 100% of
your residents there are
vaccinated and 90% of your
staff, you all were initial just
encouraging staff to be
vaccinated, but trinity health,
the network which you're apart
umposed the vaccine mandate and
what do we know what prompted
the organization to do that?
>> Trinity health initiated the
mandate largely because of our
core value of safety, resident
and colleague safety.
We just thought that was the
most important thing and we
should do more, so we were
fortunate to have already a high
participation level, but this
just helps to push us to reach
this.
>> Would you say the Delta
varient factored into that
decision?
>> I would say yes.
>> So for the unvaccinated
staff, so far, what proportion
would you say are hesitant to
get it because they're not
certain and what proportion are
adamantly opposed?
>> About 7% of the staff are
discerning the vaccine and
although you haven't -- we did
lose one staff member who was
adamants about not going, but we
peel that it's just so important
for the safety of our community,
both colleagues and residents,
that it's well worth the risks
involved in terms of we can
overcome anything for the safety
of our residents.
>> For those who are hesitant or
resistants, what reasons are
they giving?
>> I'll share initially,
people -- most people had a
wait-and see attitude.
When we were one of the first
communities to be vaccinated and
I think other staff members saw
that most of us at that time,
probably 70% had taken the
vaccine and there were to severe
effects and everything was going
well and more and more people
did the vaccine, they opted to
do the vaccine and that
wait-and-see accounted for a lot
of people delayed taking the
vaccine.
Now I think people are just
still thinking about it, but the
Delta varient is changing minds,
as well as just seeing so many
people going along with it and
knowing that it's important for
the safety of our community, is
also a factor, and you think
that weighs on people making
that decision.
>> How have residents and
families responded to the
vaccine mandate?
>> They are extremely pleased.
If we have a positive case in
the building, we have to go on
lockdown again to a shorter
time.
Having for vaccinated staff
members and residents prevent
more -- are left with the
opportunities to test positive
and having to shut down.
>> So going forward, you have a
deadline of
September 21st and you
mentioned one staff member did
resign rather meet the mandate
and receive the vaccine, what go
you think happens next?
Will some people who have taken
a hard line, will they remain a
part of the team?
>> We're hoping that they do and
see the bigger picture here
because this is not just -- it's
about our whole community and
greater community.
So we're really hoping that
everyone does see that safety.
Again our core value and that's
our most important priority.
>> Francis, thank you for the